The conservatives in congress won’t fund aid to Ukraine or Israel unless and until something is done at our southern border to stop the flow in immigrants. So, old Sleepy Joe went ahead and arranged for a weapons sale to Israel without congressional oversight. That’s supposed to be a no-no but the Biden administration is pushing the idea that it’s an emergency and that Israel has national security implications and a right to “maintain a strong and ready national defense capability.”

Obviously, the cons are whining about Biden’s congressional end-run on GOP obstruction. But then, they whine about everything, all the time. By now, it’s LOUD, but it’s boring. As it happens, there are Democrats out there complaining about the sale, too. There WILL BE some kerfuffle about it but I’m pretty sure more American bombs will be falling on Palestinian babies soon. Thanks, Joe.

Meanwhile, South Africa has asked the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the UN’s top court, to declare that Israel’s war in Gaza is a violation of the Genocide Convention of 1948. The filing accused Israel of engaging “in genocidal acts against the Palestinian people in Gaza”. I stand with South Africa on this one. Israel rejects the charge “with disgust” and as “blood libel” from South Africa. ”Blood libel.” Sounds like time for the disclaimer.

For me, and millions of people around the world, my concerns about the developments in Israel and Palestine are about governments and what governments do. I don’t give two figs about which religion these people practice or which of the nearly 3,600 gods worshiped on Earth right now, today, they think is the most super-de-duper. Trying to shut down criticism of Israeli actions with charges of “antisemitism” or “blood libel” is a dodge that comes from people who don’t seem able to otherwise defend their actions.

Look, I do not, CAN not, will not defend the incredibly stupid and violent response of Hamas in their October 7th attack that killed 1,200 Israelis. Since that day, though, the Israelis have killed nearly 22,000 Palestinians and they have no intention of stopping. Palestine is in ruins. Israel warned Palestinians to run south, then bombed the place they told the Palestinians to run to. They’ve completely destroyed any and all medical help in Gaza. If you’re Palestinian, disease is becoming more likely to kill you than Israeli (American) bombs.

I see it this way: let’s say you’re in a bar and a guy sucker-punches you from behind, then blends into the crowd so you don’t know who hit you. You do NOT have the right to kill everyone you see until you get the right guy. But that has been Israel’s strategy from the start. The world (except the US) started asking Israel to stand down. Netanyahu said he will not. Eventually, even Biden asked Netanyahu to, if he wouldn’t mind, please, take it a little easy on Gaza. Netanyahu increased bomb runs. The outcry is getting louder but the attacks just keep coming, Palestinians just keep dying. Israel keeps attacking and they’re using American bombs to do it. Yeah, because they need a strong “defense capability.”

If you ask an Israeli apologist about the war, they’ll look at you and drone, “From the river to the sea” because Hamas says they want to drive Israelis into the sea. From MY point of view, Israel says it wants everyone to get along - all the while working aggressively to push Palestinians into the sea. Hamas says they wish they could do it. Israel just does it – and they’re using American bombs. Oh, how I hate this war…

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Okay, I need something lighter. I didn’t see the game so I can’t say for sure. Yesterday, the Dallas Cowboys played the Detroit Lions. At the end, the Lions were down by one and tried a two-point conversion to win the game. This is all “in the weeds” stuff so I’ll simplify as much as possible. There’s a way for a guy normally NOT allowed to catch the ball to be allowed to for one play. He has to report to the refs that, for this play, he’s an eligible receiver and the refs tell the defense so they’re aware.

According to the LIONS, a guy named Decker reported to the official, Brad Allen, as eligible. At the same time, another player was running onto the field, number 70, a guy named, Skipper. (That’s his real last name.) So, Decker reports but Allen tells Dallas that SKIPPER has reported. The Lions run their play and it goes to Decker, just like it was supposed to. The refs called a penalty and the winning two-point play was negated. Detroit went on to lose.

The ref, Allen, may have gotten confused, listening to Decker, but watching Skipper run onto the field. Allen reported the wrong name to Dallas, then punished Detroit for Allen’s error. Allen maintains it was Skipper who reported. Uh-oh. As always, there’s video. The video shows DECKER reporting and the official nodding, then speaking to Dallas. Despite the video, Allen is sticking to his story, for now.

This game had serious ramifications on the playoff picture. The officiating “error” changed things. There’s nothing that can be done about it now. Detroit is just screwed. It’s getting easier and easier to make a case that the NFL is using it’s well-established reputation for crappy officiating to manipulate the outcome of games…

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See? Lighter. Okay, so this is the last issue of MyBaconPress for the year 2023. If you like what I’m doing, you can go to my site, https://mybaconpress.com/. Click the “Follow” button and enter your email address and they’ll come straight to your email inbox. Never miss an issue again!

2024 looks like it’s shaping up to be a BIG year in human history. WILL the US fall into the conservative fascist dream? Will Stinky Donald end up in prison or the White House? (Are we amazed that’s even a question?) Will rational, thinking Americans FINALLY push MAGA back into the shadows, where they belong? Will America solve its housing problem by passing the ‘End Hedge Fund Control of American Homes Act of 2023?’ Hell, will we solve ANY of our problems, or just keep nursing them as campaign “issues?” We all just have to wait and see. But I’ll be writing…

I’ll tell you this: I hope you have a safe and happy New Year celebration and I REALLY hope 2024 works out well – for all of us…